Police, community and calendar briefs for May 19, 2013

Published: Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.

Police beat

Woman accused of leaving son in road

A 33-year-old Ocala woman was arrested by Ocala police officers on Saturday morning, accused of leaving her 4-year-old son in a stroller in the middle of the road while she argued with the occupants of a residence on Southwest Ninth Road, according to authorities.

Officers received a call about a woman quarreling with some people in the 1900 block of Southwest Ninth Road. The residents told police they did not know the woman.

Arriving on scene, officers found the little boy in a stroller in the middle of Southwest Ninth Road and made contact with the woman and the people she was arguing with.

As officers investigated, the woman, identified as Verdell Louise Jones, refused to leave the property because she alleged her man was inside the home and he needed to come out. Jones, officials said, appeared to be drunk.

The Department of Children and Families was notified about the incident, and the toddler was handed over to a relative who was called to the scene.

Jones was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was charged with child neglect and disorderly intoxication.

Local court records show Jones has been convicted of several offenses, including felony petit theft, possession of an open container of alcohol and possession of alcohol by a person under 21.

Man accused of having sex with teenage girl

A 35-year-old Weirsdale man was arrested early Saturday and charged with multiple sex offenses on a 15-year-old girl, according to authorities.

Sheriff’s deputies received a report on Friday about a possible inappropriate situation involving a man and a teenage girl, and the minor was taken to Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection for an interview, authorities said. There, the teen told an official that she and Alan Roy Baker have been having sex for about two months and she provided details about the occasions.

Baker was located and taken into custody by a sheriff’s deputy, who transported him to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for an interview.

Interviewed by Detective Clint Smith, Baker denied having sex with the girl, authorities said. Before he was taken to the Marion County Jail, a small amount of marijuana was found in Baker’s front left pocket, Smith said.

At the jail, Baker was charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious battery and one count each of lewd and lascivious molestation and possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.

Man cut with machete; another man charged

Hours after a man allegedly chopped another man twice with a machete, sending the victim to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the apparent assailant turned himself in to the Marion County Jail, according to Ocala police.

Elliot Anthony Rivera, 32, surrendered at the jail shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, more than 10 hours after being accused of inflicting wounds on a man. Rivera was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Police said they were called to the 900 block of Northeast 11th Street sometime after 1 a.m. Saturday in reference to an argument. On scene, officers were told Rivera and the victim, Shane Chess, were arguing when Rivera allegedly went to a vehicle and retrieved a machete, which was used to injure the victim.

Officials said the victim sustained injuries to his left hand and forearm and was taken to Munroe Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and later released.

Rivera, local records show, has been convicted of several offenses, including domestic battery and obtaining a worthless check.

community

Public hearing to discuss roadwork

The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing regarding plans to widen State Road 40 west of County Road 328 to Northwest 80th Ave., Ocala. The event begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Lillian Bryant Meeting Hall, 2200 NW 17th Place, Ocala.

The project would widen SR 40 from two to four lanes and include changes to median openings, bike lanes and drainage improvements. The project is funded for construction in 2014.

For more information, visit www.cflroads.com.

City Council to discuss changes to charter

Revisions to the city of Ocala’s charter now are expected be introduced, without discussion, at the June 4 City Council meeting and presented for public discussion and adoption by the City Council at its June 18 meeting.

Council meetings begin at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala.

8-ball benefit to help child with cancer

Bankshot Billiards Sports Bar & Grill is hosting a benefit 8-ball tournament on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the proceeds being donated to the family of 5-year-old Landon Parrish.

Landon, the son of an Ocala Police Department officer, has been diagnosed with Alveolar Rabdomyocaroma, a soft-muscle tissue cancer.

The tournament starts at 11 a.m., with five players to a team, and the cost for each team is $50.

Trophies will be given to the first three places, and all proceeds from the event and food sales will be donated to the family.

<p><b>Police beat</b></p><p> </p><p><b>Woman accused of leaving son in road</b></p><p>A 33-year-old Ocala woman was arrested by Ocala police officers on Saturday morning, accused of leaving her 4-year-old son in a stroller in the middle of the road while she argued with the occupants of a residence on Southwest Ninth Road, according to authorities.</p><p>Officers received a call about a woman quarreling with some people in the 1900 block of Southwest Ninth Road. The residents told police they did not know the woman.</p><p>Arriving on scene, officers found the little boy in a stroller in the middle of Southwest Ninth Road and made contact with the woman and the people she was arguing with.</p><p>As officers investigated, the woman, identified as Verdell Louise Jones, refused to leave the property because she alleged her man was inside the home and he needed to come out. Jones, officials said, appeared to be drunk.</p><p>The Department of Children and Families was notified about the incident, and the toddler was handed over to a relative who was called to the scene.</p><p>Jones was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was charged with child neglect and disorderly intoxication.</p><p>Local court records show Jones has been convicted of several offenses, including felony petit theft, possession of an open container of alcohol and possession of alcohol by a person under 21.</p><p><b>Man accused of having sex with teenage girl</b></p><p>A 35-year-old Weirsdale man was arrested early Saturday and charged with multiple sex offenses on a 15-year-old girl, according to authorities.</p><p>Sheriff's deputies received a report on Friday about a possible inappropriate situation involving a man and a teenage girl, and the minor was taken to Kimberly's Center for Child Protection for an interview, authorities said. There, the teen told an official that she and Alan Roy Baker have been having sex for about two months and she provided details about the occasions.</p><p>Baker was located and taken into custody by a sheriff's deputy, who transported him to the Marion County Sheriff's Office for an interview.</p><p>Interviewed by Detective Clint Smith, Baker denied having sex with the girl, authorities said. Before he was taken to the Marion County Jail, a small amount of marijuana was found in Baker's front left pocket, Smith said.</p><p>At the jail, Baker was charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious battery and one count each of lewd and lascivious molestation and possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.</p><p><b>Man cut with machete; another man charged</b></p><p>Hours after a man allegedly chopped another man twice with a machete, sending the victim to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the apparent assailant turned himself in to the Marion County Jail, according to Ocala police.</p><p>Elliot Anthony Rivera, 32, surrendered at the jail shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, more than 10 hours after being accused of inflicting wounds on a man. Rivera was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.</p><p>Police said they were called to the 900 block of Northeast 11th Street sometime after 1 a.m. Saturday in reference to an argument. On scene, officers were told Rivera and the victim, Shane Chess, were arguing when Rivera allegedly went to a vehicle and retrieved a machete, which was used to injure the victim.</p><p>Officials said the victim sustained injuries to his left hand and forearm and was taken to Munroe Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and later released.</p><p>Rivera, local records show, has been convicted of several offenses, including domestic battery and obtaining a worthless check.</p><p> </p><p><b>community</b></p><p><b>Public hearing to discuss roadwork</b></p><p>The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing regarding plans to widen State Road 40 west of County Road 328 to Northwest 80th Ave., Ocala. The event begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Lillian Bryant Meeting Hall, 2200 NW 17th Place, Ocala.</p><p>The project would widen SR 40 from two to four lanes and include changes to median openings, bike lanes and drainage improvements. The project is funded for construction in 2014.</p><p>For more information, visit www.cflroads.com.</p><p><b>City Council to discuss changes to charter</b></p><p>Revisions to the city of Ocala's charter now are expected be introduced, without discussion, at the June 4 City Council meeting and presented for public discussion and adoption by the City Council at its June 18 meeting.</p><p>Council meetings begin at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala.</p><p><b>8-ball benefit to help child with cancer</b></p><p>Bankshot Billiards Sports Bar & Grill is hosting a benefit 8-ball tournament on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the proceeds being donated to the family of 5-year-old Landon Parrish.</p><p>Landon, the son of an Ocala Police Department officer, has been diagnosed with Alveolar Rabdomyocaroma, a soft-muscle tissue cancer.</p><p>The tournament starts at 11 a.m., with five players to a team, and the cost for each team is $50.</p><p>Trophies will be given to the first three places, and all proceeds from the event and food sales will be donated to the family.</p><p>For more information, call Mike at 362-9080, or Bankshot Billards Sports Bar & Grill, 3741 E. Silver Springs Blvd., at 867-8100.</p><p><b>CALENDAR</b></p><p><b>TODAY</b></p><p>FOOD ADDICTS: Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7 p.m., Queen of Peace Church, 6455 SW State Road 200, Ocala. (270-8534 or www.foodaddicts.org)</p><p> </p><p>FLAG RETIREMENT: 1 to 5 p.m., DAV Post 85, 9892 SE 58th Ave., Belleview, with music and more. Ceremony at 2 p.m. (978-758-6108)</p><p> </p><p>RECITAL: Ocala Piano Conservatory Recital and Awards Ceremony, 2 p.m., Queen of Peace Church, 6455 State Road 200, Ocala. Free. (ocalapianoconservatory.com)</p><p> </p><p><b>ONGOING</b></p><p>DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB: Games, Stratified Open 1:30 p.m. Sunday; Stratified Non-Life Masters 10:15 a.m. Tuesday; Stratified Open and Stratified Non-Life Masters 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays; Stratified Open 10:15 a.m. Thursdays; Ocala Duplicate Bridge Club, 516 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. (629-3322 or www.bridgescore.com/ocaladbc)</p><p> </p><p>MENTAL HEALTH: National Alliance on Mental Illness support groups for individuals living with and recovering from severe mental illness. (368-2405 or info@NAMIOcala.org)</p><p> </p><p>ABUSE SUPPORT: Support for sexually and physically abused youth, non-offending family members and caregivers, Serenity Christian Counseling, St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 1839 NE Eighth Ave. Road, Ocala. (622-4475)</p><p> </p><p>NICOTINE ANONYMOUS: 12-step program to stop nicotine use, 7 a.m. daily, 2002 NW 13th St., Ocala. (377-6009)</p><p> </p><p>COUNSELING: Counseling and mentoring services, Bethesda Cares. (566-7586 or info@bethesda-worship-center.org)</p><p> </p><p>TUTORING: 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Howard Academy Community Center, 306 NW Seventh Ave., Ocala. (671-4175)</p><p> </p><p>GED HELP: 11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Marion County Public library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. (671-8551)</p><p> </p><p>B.E.A.R.: Be Excited about Reading, for children, 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. (671-8551)</p><p> </p><p>STORYTIMES: Storytimes, all branches of the Marion County Public Library. Times, ages, dates vary. (671-8551)</p><p> </p><p>BOOK SALE: Friends of Belleview Public Library, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Book Nook, 6007 SE Earp Road, Belleview. (438-2500 or 245-2767)</p><p><i>To submit information for this list, send an email to calendar@starbanner.com or visit www.ocala.com, scroll down and click on EVENTS CALENDAR on the right.</i></p>